Two prominent faculty members reflect on long careers as they retire from IU Northwest

Alan Barr has served campus for 50 years; Charles Gallmeier, for 25

Friday Dec 07, 2018

December marks Indiana University Northwest’s annual retirement reception, a time for celebrating those who have given their talent to the university whether it be for a few years, or several decades.

When it comes to longevity, it may be hard to top Alan Barr, who has served IU Northwest for 50 years. Another cherished fixture of the IU Northwest campus, Charles Gallmeier, will be retiring after 25 years of service. Collectively, the seven faculty members being recognized at December’s recognition event have given several decades of their talent to IU Northwest.

Alan Barr: 50 Years

In 1968, Barr took a job at IU Northwest as an assistant professor of English. A native of New York, Barr earned his undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his graduate degrees from the University of Rochester. After working for five years at Wayne State University in Detroit, Barr, who lives in came to IU Northwest to teach Victorian literature and modern drama.

Alan Barr joined IU Northwest in 1968

Barr remained in the English Department and taught a variety of courses over the next 50 years, adding film to his initial concentrations in Nineteenth Century British literature and Modern Drama.

“I’ve seen the faculty and the administration change over what amounts to generations,” he said. “The student population has varied—both in interests and in size.”

His fondest and most rewarding experiences were when classes hummed along really well. Memories of seeing his students succeed are by far the most rewarding, Barr said.

Reflecting on his past half a century, Barr sums up his advice to colleagues succinctly: “The academy can be a really good place to spend your working life, especially if you connect with the students and appreciate what it is possible to do with them. Enjoying the research is also crucial.”

In retirement, Barr intends to empty out his email and to catch up on household repairs.

“Aside from that,” he added, “I have some scholarly projects that I want to take care of and also to travel.”

Charles Gallmeier: 25 years

In the 25 years he has served IU Northwest, Charles Gallmeier went from an adjunct faculty member to Chancellor’s Professor in Sociology, with many additional roles along the way.

Charles Gallmeier joined IU Northwest in 1991

Gallmeier’s vitae would tell you that he was hired as an adjunct faculty member in 1991 and then as a visiting assistant professor of sociology about a year later, an appointment that eventually led to a tenure-track position as an assistant professor of sociology, beginning in 1993. Then it was on to full professor in 2006, and eventually, Chancellor’s Professor in 2013.

In addition to a quarter century of teaching sociology, and numerous publications and awards to his credit, Gallmeier has served the university in many significant, and even iconic, ways.

He served the Faculty Organization as its president for eight years, longer than any other leader. He was also the “Voice of the RedHawks,” giving his time as the announcer at athletic events. He has also served as the Grand Marshall at Commencement for at least the past five years.

Gallmeier says his proudest achievement was securing a permanent seat for a faculty representative from the regional faculty council (RFC) at the IU’s Board of Trustees meetings, a practice which did not exist until Gallmeier recommended it about three years ago.

“It used to be that the regional campuses didn’t have a voice at those meetings,” Gallmeier said. “I felt it was important to have representatives from the regional faculty councils meet with President McRobbie, as well as our counterparts from the IU Bloomington and IUPUI faculty governing bodies. The recommendation was met with enthusiasm at all levels of IU and I’m so proud that this practice will forever be a part of faculty governance.”

One of his fondest memories was the Philanthropy Week promotion that he did alongside Chancellor William J. Lowe in 2014. The fun video and related materials designed to create awareness of the need for student scholarship support, spoofed the movie, “The Blues Brothers,” and starred Gallmeier and Lowe as Jake and Elwood.

Gallmeier’s retirement plans include traveling to new places and enjoying his pontoon boat at his Michigan lake house. He will likely make appearances on campus in retirement, and might even teach a course. After all, it could be hard for him to entirely leave his “family.”

“In sociology, family has real meaning,” Gallmeier says. “There are families of choice. This is a place where I work, the environment where I spent so many years. IU Northwest is my family too.”